Severity and 90-day survival of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with haematological disorders

Background Particularly older patients and patients with comorbidities have been reported to suffer from complications and fatalities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [Citation1–5]. COVID-19 has given rise to a case-fatality rate (CFR) above 20% in cancer patients compared to 5–6% in non-cancer patients [Citation6–11]. Patients with haematological cancers have demonstrated the highest CFRs, often exceeding 30% [Citation9,Citation12,Citation13]. Emphasising the vulnerability, seroconversion 21 days after COVID-19 vaccination was 94% in healthy controls compared with 18% in patients with haematological cancer [Citation14]. Almost all previous studies have investigated prognosis using mortality rate at 30 days or CFR without specified follow-up period [Citation7,Citation15–17] and prognosis data beyond one month is scarce [Citation12,Citation18,Citation19]. Since patients with haematological cancer may have a delayed or even absent clearance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [Citation20], studies with longer-term follow-up are relevant to monitor mortality and post infection symptoms. Recently it was reported that even SARS-CoV-2 infected patients that were not hospitalised, more frequently initiated bronchodilating agents or received a subsequent hospital diagnosis of dyspnoea than matched SARS-CoV-2 negative comparisons [Citation21]. Similarly, we found that among 66 patients with haematological disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection, 57% reported fatigue, 46% reduced functional abilities, and 33% dyspnoea one month after verified infection [Citation22]. In the present study, we extended inclusion period and follow-up to include additional patients and study mortality and functional capacity 90-days after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein we present data regarding clinical presentation and outcome for 108 adult Danish patients with haematological disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection verified before September 1, 2020. <br